HopgoodGanim’s Dispute Resolution team has proudly advised the Board of Architects of Queensland in two successful prosecutions for ‘holding out’ offences under the Architects Act 2002.
The matters involved Sunshine Coast-based Chris Clout Design Pty Ltd and Christopher Peter Clout, the sole director of Chris Clout Design Pty Ltd. Mr Clout was found guilty of the offence of allowing himself to be held out as an architect when he was not an architect between 7 June 2017 and 28 February 2018, in breach of section 113(1)(b) of the Act. Mr Clout was not a registered architect in Queensland.
Mr Clout’s offending involved him allowing himself to be held out as an architect through content on his company’s website; content in videos available through the website; and content in a book which was available to the public.
Chris Clout Design Pty Ltd was found guilty of the offence of holding Mr Clout out to be an architect knowing that Mr Clout was not an architect, contrary to section 113(2) of the Act. The Court ordered that no conviction be recorded against Chris Clout Design Pty Ltd or Mr Clout.
Chris Clout Design Pty Ltd was fined $30,000 and ordered to pay $20,000 towards the Board of Architects of Queensland’s costs.
Mr Clout was individually fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 in costs.
We congratulate the Board of Architects of Queensland on this important decision and look forward to working with them to continue to uphold the high standards of the architectural profession.
Read more at the Board’s website.